Jigawa State chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), has expressed concern over dwindling prices of sesame and hibiscus in Gumel Local Government Area of the state.
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Alhaji Almu Dandada, AFAN Chairman in the area, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Gumel.
He said a bag of sesame was sold for between N21, 000 and N22, 000 as against its old prices of N35, 000 and N40, 000.
Dandada said a kilogramme of hibiscus now goes as low as N180 as against and N350 it sold in 2019, representing over 70 per cent decrease.
The chairman attributed the trend to low demand occasioned by lack of patronage from foreign customers.
Dandada also blamed grain dealers for indiscriminate adulteration of the produce which negatively affected prices.
He said: “Bulk of the cash crops are usually mop up by foreign companies patronising the produce.
“Unfortunately, none of the foreign companies show up this year forcing us to rely on local companies with low purchasing power.
“The adulteration of the commodities is responsible for drastic drop in the demand resulting from foreign companies shying away from grain markets the state.
“Farmers are not engage in adulteration of produce, rather the commodities are adulterated in the market. We don’t do that.
“The Jigawa State Consumer Protection Committee has so far arrested over 50 persons in connection with adulteration of grains; none of them is a farmer”.
Dandada, therefore, appealed to government at all levels to assist in creating market for the produce to boost farmers’ income levels.